Update: Malala Yousufzai to Make Home in Great Britain

Activist now taking refuge in Great Britain

According to the Daily Mail, Yousufzai and her family will stay in Great Britain. Her father’s been offered a job at the Pakistani Consulate in Birmingham, in response to threats by the Tehrik-e-Taliban.

Now as she takes refuge in exile, she will have a new international platform for her activism. No doubt she will continue to be in danger, but the danger should be less and her healing progress will continue with her family safe with her.

It’s an interesting result of terrorism, that no matter how violent or tragic the effects (and they are always violent and tragic), violence only demonstrates weakness and calls attention to the importance of democracy and its protections.

Non-violence is part of self-development, and education is a key to developing focused, non-violent leadership.

Martin Luther King said, “Non-violence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.”

Gandhi said, “Non violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being.”

Malala Yousufzai is eloquent about the need for education as a core part of freedom, both personal and national. It is also a core activity in non-violent leadership.

In order for violence to be demonstrated as the weak leadership it represents, education makes it possible to broaden the possibility of responses, including non-violence as well as effective communication of all sorts. It’s not only formal education that offers these expanded choices — the idea of education includes community-based training and self-development as well.

No matter what happens now, her message has galvanized the world around education for girls in Pakistan.

One of the results of good education and training is increased focus and strength of character. Yousufzai demonstrates both. As a leader, she has been able to stay on message, tell her stories with meaning and sincerity, and stand strong despite threats and attacks.

Although the Taliban meant to silence her, they broadcast her voice further. As she recovers, and I hope she heals fully and completely, she will continue her authentic leadership, now from the refuge and exile of Great Britain.

May we continue to learn from her, reaching towards education not guns to solve our problems.

Yes — and it’s so necessary! It will be easier for her whole family to be safe there. I heard a feature on National Public Radio here that interviewed some of the other girls on the bus. These girls are being protected by police all the time for fear they’ll be attacked by the Taliban, and the town is less and less safe. So really, Malala and her family could not go home and expect to live.